Disconnect air-break line switch



J. E. SUMPTER DISCONNECT AIR BREAK LINE SWITCH Dec. 13,

Filed Aug. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwmwfoz Dec. 13, 1927.

1,652,689 J. E. SUMPTER DISCON'NECT AIR BREAK LINE SWITCH Filed Aug. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnvwnroz I060 Z. Sumpfier Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,689

J. E. SUMPTER DISCONNECT AIR BREAK LINE SWITCH Filed Aug. 20, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 30 75 Z8 72 9 Z4 Z5 /4 I 4% Q H gnwntoz Job/7 1F. Sump Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. SUMPTER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DISCONNECT AIR-BREAK LINE SWITCH.

Application filed August 20, 1923.

My invention relates to disconnect airbrealt line switches and has for its ob ect to provide a switch which is particularly adapted to be used in high tension transmis- 5 sion lines and which is adapted to be inserted in the said line and operated to disconncct a section of the line for repair or other purposes.'

Another object of the invention s to provide means whereby the said switch may be remotely operated. preferably from the ground so'that the line may be disconnected with ease and safety.

A still further object resides in PIQVld' l ing a base to which is attached three Insulators, one of said insulators being rotatably mounted and to attach switch means to the other of said two insulators adapted to be operated by the rotation of said rotatably mounted insulator.

A still further object is to secure a guide and support to one of said insulators and to slidably mount an operating lever in said support, which lever is connected to a switch blade and which has a rack formed on the same adapted to mesh with a pinion secured to said rotatably mounted insulator whereby the said lever may be reciprocated to opcrate said switch blade to open and close the switch at will.

A still further object is to arrange said guide and support so that the same form a shelter for said rack and pinion and other operating mechanism for said switch.

:15 Further objects of my invention reside 1n the detailed construction of the same essential to the operation of a device having the herein stipulated characteristics, which objects will become ap scription of my inventmn brought out in the specification and in the drawings.

In the drawings illustrating my invention in one form:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention showing the switch blade in various positions.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the structure shown in Figure 1 with a portion of the same cut away.

Fi ure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the evice shown in Figure 2 with a part of the supporting mechanism removed to show the operating mechanism within the same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 4:4 of Figure 2.

rent from the de- Serial No. 658,310.

the switch may be readily disconnected when the need arises. With these requirements in view, I have provided a switch employing a vertically positioned shaft for operating, which shaft may be directly attached to one of the insulators utilized in my invention, which shaft has further attached to it a pinion adapted to operate upon a rack to directly move the switch mechanism. In this manner, a device which will positively operate is provided.

In the device shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I have illustrated the application of my invention to a structure dapted to be used in conjunction wit-h a ho zontally arranged transmission line. In Figure 1, is shown at 10 a cross arm of a pole, which is not illustrated and to which the invention may be attached. For supporting the switch, I employ a channel bar 11 which is rigidly bolted to the cross arm 10 by means of bolts or lag screws 12. This channel serves as a base or support for the switch construction which is positioned longitudinally relative to the line in which the switch is to be inserted. In this case illustrated, the line is shown at 14 and is positioned somewhat above the support 11.

Upon the support 11 at the ends thereof, I attach high tension insulators 15 and 16 which are mounted upon cast iron bases 17 and 18 in the customary manner. The exact type of these insulators or bases does not matter in so far as the construction or operation of my invention is concerned. Upon the top of the insulator 16 is bolted a casting 19 which forms a support for the switch blade of the switch. This casting is constructed with two flanges 20 and 21, shown in Figure 3, by means of which the said casting ma be bolted into the top of insulator 16 y a number of bolts 22 passing through said flanges. Casting 19 is provided at its extreme end with a lug 23 to which may be bolted by means of a bolt 24 a terminal 25 secured to one end of the line 14.

Between the two insulators 15 and 16 is positioned a third insulator 26 which is arranged in close proximity to the insulator 16. This insulator is rotatably mounted upon a base 27 secured to the channel 11 in a manner to be presently described. which insulator is formed with a stud shaft. 28 issuing upwardly from the top of the same. Shaft 28 passes through a portion of the casting l9 and aids in supporting the said casting relative to the support 11.

The casting 1.) is somewhat raised above tl" insulator 26 at $29 to allow a lever 30 t oe positioned below the same. 'lhislever is termed with a ltit l lt- 'l portion 31 adapted to surround the shaft 2F. which looped portion is constructed to provide two longitudinal arms and 83 arranged in parallel relation. .-\t the oth r end. lever 30 is tormed with a guide 34 which is adapted to slide within a guideway 35 formed in the bottom of casting 19. where the same rests upon the insulator it With this construction, it can readily be (Pll that the lever fit) may be reciprocated ack and forth within the limits of the ripening within the looped portion 31. the said lc er being guided by the guide 34 and thc guideway 35 in casting it).

At the forward end f casting 19. the same is provided with 1 l'orlt ii; between which is pivoted a casting 37 to which is rigidly secured a pair of switch arms 38 and 39. issuing downwardly from the Casting 37 is arranged an offset portion 40 to which is pivoted a connecting link 41 which link is also pivoted to a forked member 42 formed on the extreme end of the lever Pi lVith this arrangen'ient. it can readily be seen that the switch arms 38 may be swung from the position shown n t'ull lines in Figare l to either of the positions shown at 42 or 43 in dotted lines in th ame tigure when the lever 30 is reciprocated.

The con truction of the switch proper of my invention is follows: Between the extreme era of the switch arm:- "W is pivoted a short switch blade i4 iy means of a bolt 45. This switch blade is adapted to engage a rail" of switch contact members 46 and 4'7 which are positioned within housing 49 mounted upon the top of the insulator 15. The contact members 46 and 47 are directly attached to a lug 49 formed on the interior of the housing 48. Housing 48 is pre'te ably attached to a. base 56 which is directly secured to the insulator 15. the said housing being held in place upon the base 50 by means of screws 51. as will be noted in Figure 2. The housing 48 is formed open at 52 to permit the switch blade 44 to enter the same and to engage the contact members 46 and 47. In addition. the base 50 is constructed with an apron 53 projecting outwardly beyond the said housing which is adapted to strike against the extreme end of the switch blade 44 when the same is lowered to bring the said switch blade within the housing 48.

The operation of the switch of the invention is as follows: When the switch is closed, the same takes the position indicated ln full lines in Figure 1, the switch blade 44 being in alignment with the switch arms 38 being seated between the two contact members 46 and 47. In this position, housing 48 protects the said switch arm and the, contact members so that snow and ice are prevented from forming around the same and rendering the opening of the switch impossible. l pon opening the switch. the top of the switch blade 44 strikes against the corner 54 of housing 48 causing the said switch blade to swing relative to the switch arms 38 and 39 and to take the position shown at 42 in Figure '1. \Vhen the switch is closed, the extreme end of switch blade 44 engages the apron 55% of base 50 causing the said switch blade to straighten out and to assume the position shown in full lines in Figure 1.

For attaching the other end of line 14 to the switch of the invention. a lag 55 is employed which is cast integral with the housing 45 and issues outwardly therefrom. This lug has secured to it a terminal 56 which is soldered to the end of the line 14 and is bolted to the said lug by a bolt It can now become apparent that the line 14 may be connected or disconnected at will, by the operation of the hereinbefore described switch.

To break the arc which is set up when the line switch is operated, I employ a horn .38 which is rigidly attached to and issues upwardly from the top of the housing 4?. A pair of horns 59 are also employed. which horns straddle the horn 58 and are rigidly attached to the switch arms 37 and 38. These horns are preferably arranged in diyerging relation so that. as the switch is moved upwardly. the length of the gap between the said horns increases. When the switch takes the position shown in dotted lines at the said horns separate entirely. the maximum spacing being shown when the switch takes the position indicated in dotted lines at 43.

The manner of attaching the horns 59 to the switch arms 37 and 39 can best be seen in Figures 1 and 2. A number of blades or clamping members 60. 61. 62 and 63 are employed which are po' itioned on top of and below the said switch arms 37 and 38. A single bolt 64 passes completely through all of these clamping members. The horns 59 are positioned between the members 60 and 61 so that. when the said bolt 64 is tightened. said horns are firmly clamped to the said switch arms 37 and 38 in proper relation to one another and to the fixed born 58.

For holding the switch blade 44 in proper relation when the switch is open the inner end of the said switch blade is formed with a hump 65, best shown in Fi re 1. This tinction to the other form of the invention,

hump is adapted to be engaged y a notched leaf spring 66 which is securely heldattached to the arms 37 and 38 between the clamping members- 61 and 62 previously referred to. When the switch blade 44 is in its angular position relative to the arms 37 and 38, the said hump 65, lodges within the notched portion of the 'leaf spring 55, being there retained while the switch is in its open position. Member 63 also functions as an additional stop, preventing switch blade 44 from rotating further than shown in positions 42 and 43. r

The manner of supporting and journalling the insulator 26 forrotation can best be seen in Figure 4. The lower. portion of this is arranged to have an operating shaft attached to it in anysuit-ablemanner, which shaft'extends downwardly to the point to which the switch'is to be operated from. This construction, however, being apparent is not disclosed in the specification.

For operating the lever '30, one of the arms 32 of the same is formed with rack teeth 72 adapted to be engaged by a pinion 73 secured to the top of insulator 26 as.

said sleeve.

clearly shown in Figure 3. When the said insulator is rotated, it can readily be seen that "lever 30 is reciprocated, causing the switch arms 37 and '38 to be oscillated and to be operated as previously described. The shaft 28, previouslyreferred.to, which is secured to the top of the insulator 26 passes directlyth'rough the gear -73. A 'sleeve'7t surrounds the said shaft 28 and is arranged to bear down upon the pinion 73' when a nut 75 positioned upon the 'extreme end of shaft 28 is screwed downupon the endof For holding the said inion fromrotation, a number of dowels 6, are

also employed sothatthe said pinion is at all timesfirmly held attached to the insulator.

In Figure 5, I have shown a slight modification of the invention which differs prin- 'cipally in that the insulators supporting the sulators' 26 and 16 are mounted upon one base 79, as clearly'shown. In contra-dis a single bent switch blade 80 is used which takes the place of theswitch arms 37' and 38 and the switch blade 44. switch blade cooperates with a pair'ofconta'ct members 81 directly secured to the insu'lators 15, which contact members, in this case, are exposed instead of being housed as'in the other form of the invention. However', the top of the contacts have a small cover, shown at 100, to keep them from fillihgwith ice when the blade is left in an open position. With the exception of these changes, the operating mechanism and other construction: are the same as that disclosed in the form of the in+ vention shown in the other figures. .VVhen the shaft 69 of insulator 26 is rotated, switch blade '80 is caused to oscillate from the position showndnfull and dotted-lines in this figure, making and breaking the circuit through the line as required. For .rotatin the shaft 69, an operating shaft seas used which is journalled in abearing 83 attached to the support 77. This shaft has a bevel gear 84 mounted on it, which meshes with the bevel gear 85 secured to the'end of shaft 69. IVith this construction, insulator 26 may be rotated in the same manner .as in theother form of the invention, .to cause the switch blade 80 to open and close, as desired.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. A device of high utility and meritis provided which is -positive in actioniand simple in construction. All of the operating structure-of the invention is positioned below the support for the same s that the-1 said mechanism is protected from rain and snow thereby making it impossible to. freeze up the switch or otherwise render the" same inoperable. 9

In accordance with the patent statute's, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to re resent-thegbestembodiment thereof, but I esire to have its understood that the construction slio'wnis 1 only illustrative and that the inventioncan be carried out by other means and applied V to uses other than those above set forth wlthin the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim: 1. A lineswitch com rising a parrot fixed insulators, a rotatailezinsulator positioned between said fixed insulators, a sup: port secured to one of said fixed insulators and extending over said rotatable insulator,

said rotatable insulator being journalled in said support, a switch blade'pivoted upon said support, a switch element secured to 7 said other fixed insulator and adapted to cooperate with said -switch'blade, a guideway formed in said sup.port, a movable 'mem-- said 0t said guide to open and close said 9 relative to said switch element. no switch comprising a pair of insulators, a rotatable insulator positioned between said fixed insulators, a support secured to one of said fixed insulators and extending over-said rotatable insulator, said rotatable insulator being journalled insaid support, a switch blade pivoted upon said support, a switch element secured to said other fixed insulator and adapted to cooperate with said switch blade, a member pivoted to said switch blade and movable in said support an'dmeans operated by said insulator for actuating said member to open and close the switch.

3. A line. switch comprising a pair of fixed insulators, a rotatable'insulator positioned between said fixed insulators, a sup- 'port secured. to one of said fixed insulators and extending over said rotatable insulator, said rotatable insulator being journalled' in said support, a switch blade pivoted upon said su port, a switch element secured to lier fixed insulator andadapted to cooperate, with said switch blade, a reciproeating member slidable in said support, a link pivoted at one end to said member and at its other end to said switch blade, and means operated by said rotatable insulator for reciprocating the said member. I

4. A line switch comprising a pair of fixed insulators, a rotatable insulator positioned between said fixed insulators, a support secured-to'one of said vfixed insulators, and extending over. said rotatable insulator, said adapted to move within'saidguideway, a

link pivoted at vone endto said.;inovab1e member and at its other end to said'switch blade, a rack formed on said movable -mem I bet and a pinion formed'ion said. rotatable insulator adapted to mesh with said rack to reciprocate said movable member.

5. A- line switch comprising a support, a switch blade pivoted to said support, a

.yoked switch element adapted to cooperate with said switch blade, a movable element consisting of a sliding rack mounted upon said support and adapted to actuate said switch blade, and a rotatable member having gear teeth adapted to mesh with the gear teeth on said inovable member forpperating the switch.

6. A line switch comprising a support, a switch blade pivoted to said support, a switch element adapted tocooperate with said switch blade, a movable element mount ed upon said "sup ort and adapted to actuate said switch lade, a rack formed on said movable member and a pi'nion adapted to mesh with 'said rack for'operatin'g the switch.-

7. 'A line switch comprising a support, a switch blade pivotedto sa1d support, a switch element adapted to cooperate with said switch blade, a reciprocating member pivotally connected to said switch blade,

said reciprocating member having a yoked portion formed with two arms, a rack formed on one of said arms and 'a'gear segment rotatably mounted within sa1d yoked veloping said-shaft, a rack formed on said ortion', a pinion secured to said shaft adapted v v rocating said .slidable member, a switch blade pivotedto said forward end. ofsaid support, a link pivoted at one end to said slidable member and at its otherend to said switch blade, and aswit'ch elementattached to said othervfixed insulator and-adaptedto cooperate with said switch blade JOHN E. SUMPTEB.

to mesh with said- 'rack for recip- 

